An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D.,
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 492
JOHN W. BARNETT, Sheriff of Lewis county, was born in Lucas county, Iowa,
September 26, 1851, a son of James W. and Dinah Barnett, the former a native of
Virginia and the latter of Indiana. The father was an Iowa pioneer of 1849. The
parents now reside in Lewis county, Washington.
James W. Barnett, the second in a family of ten children, was early inured
to farm life. He moved from Iowa to Reno county, Kansas, in 1875, followed
farming there three years, was employed as clerk in a general mercantile store
in Portland, Oregon, two years, and was then connected with the butchering
business for a brief period. In 1881 Mr. Barnett permanently located in
Chehalis, Washington, where he was engaged in clerking and other occupations for
a time. As he became acquainted with the citizens of this city and county his
popularity brought his name before the public, and he was elected City Marshal,
serving in that capacity three years. He had the distinction of being a member
of the first City Council after the incorporation of Chehalis, and has been
connected with the Sheriff's office about eight years. Mr. Barnett first served
as a deputy under Sheriff F.A. Degeler, and at the time of the latter's
resignation was appointed to fill the duties of the office by the County
Commissioners in March, 1891. He was re-elected to that position in 1892. He
takes an active interest in both national and local politics, and votes with the
Republican party. In his social relations he has passed all the official chairs
in the I.O.O.F. and the A.O.U.W.
November 23, 1870, in Iowa, Mr. Barnett was united in marriage to Miss Dora
Benson, a native of Ohio. They have had seven children: Orien E., Fletcher O.,
Pearl, Augusta A., George, Mamy and Minnie. The last named died August 14, 1886.
Mr. Barnett owns both residence and business property in Chehalis, and takes an
active interest in au matters pertaining to its future prosperity.
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
* * * *
Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.